Barker attended Shiocton High School, where he was active in choir. In August he attended a seminar and planned to start a gay/straight alliance at his school. He held a job at Fleet Farm in Appleton.

Maria Peeples, Barker’s peer mentor through GSA for Safe Schools, said he was a passionate activist for all students, especially those, “targeted or ostracized for their sexual orientation or their gender identity and expression. … He really cared about making schools a safe place for students. That wasn’t always his own experience with school.”

According to a Web posting, Baker loved history, James Bond movies and Lady Gaga. He was described as an “extremely selfless” young man who enjoyed spending time with his friends, tending his rose plants, biking and reading.

“It’s a terrible shock, not just because we love and miss Cody, but because it’s a reminder that there’s still so much work we still need to do,” Peeples said.

Barker is survived by his parents, James and Darla Barker, sister Casey Barker and numerous family members and friends.

I just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about this sad story. Hatred is one of the biggest problems we are facing in today's society. It's honestly sickening how ###### up people can be. He was gay, so what!? He obviously had a good heart and he didn't deserve to die so young.

I just recently participated in the play "The Laramie Project" about the murder of a gay, college student targeted for his "sexual orientation"..Mathew Shepard. It is such a tragic and moving story, yet this hate still continues today. Mathew's murder occurred 14 years ago and yet this still happens today.

My name is Luke Ashauer and I am an openly gay young male. I am 22 years old and graduated from Clintonville High School. Being from a small town myself I can relate to the fight that Cody had with the rest of the world. I want to give my deepest sympathy to the family and friends of this loving boy. My best friend and I grew up together gay in a small town. We hope to try and make the world a better place and let young homosexuals around the state and nation that there is hope...even when it seems to far away. Again my deepest sympathies Sincerely Luke Ashauer.